Territory



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. A. SAGE.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY SWITCH. No. 393,666. Patented Nov. 27,1888..

l WITNESSES, Moazpw l:

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. A.l SAGE.

y AUTOMATIC RAILWAY SWITCH. N0. 393,666. Patented NOV. 27, 1888.

WITNESSES, Y p4 71% .gaQM/M I mow-ummm, wnsmngtm n. c.

(No Model.) 4 SheetsQSheet 3.

H. A. SAGE.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY SWITCH. No. 393,666. Patented Nov. Z7, 1888.

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N. PUERS. Phumllmngnpher wnhmgum D C (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shet'4.

H. A. SAGE.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY SWITGH. No. 393.666. Patented Nov. 27, 1888..

WITNESSES f IW' VEJV; T 0R Aa/z/Zfpewe, M; .Attorney N. PETERS. Fnolwmhognpber. washinglon. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

HARMAN A. SAGE, OF AURORA, DAKOTA TERRITORY.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,666, dated November l Application-tiledDecemberi5,1887. SerialNo.258,000. (No model.)

To all wiz-m it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARMAN A. SAGE, a citizen ofthe United States,residing atAurora, in the county of Brookings and Territory of Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Railway- Switches, of which the following is a specitlcation, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to certain improvements in mechanism by which the switchrails of a railroad-track can be positively operated and properly Y adjusted automa-tically, the ground mechanism, which is in direct connection with the free ends of the switch-rails, being actuated by an arm adapted to be protruded from the side of a railroad-carer locomotive-tender, which arm is Yunder control of either the engineer or the brakeman. l The. following description, When taken in connection with the annexed drawings, will enable others skilled in the art to fully linderstand my improvements.

In the annexed drawings, Figure I represents a plan View of a section of a railroad and car with my improvements applied thereto, the switch-rails being adjusted in line with the main track; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view of one of the ground or track devices for operating the switch-rails, the part-s being shown in their normalpositiou; Fig. 3, ahorizontal sectional view of the same,taken on the line xm of Fig. 2, the parts being shown in the same position; Fig. 4, a perspective View of a vertically-movable turn-table or carriage mounted upon a vertical shaft in the device shown in Fig. 2, and adapted to operate an oscillating plate, and also the locking-lever which engages with the same; Fig. 5, a perspective view of the said oscillating plate, which is connected to and operates the switchrails; Fig. 6, a bottom view of this plate; Fig. 7, a plan view of the devices shownvv in Fig. 2, and a portion of an arm attached to the bottom of a railway-car, the said arm being shown in the act of operating the saiddevices; Fig. 8, a bottom View of a railwaycar or tender with thespring-actuated operating-arms and devices for operatingthe same applied thereto, the arm on'one side of the car being Withdrawn and the one on the other side being projected; Fig. 9, a Vertical central section of one of the devices on the car for operating the switch mechanism, the operating-arm being protruded ready for operating; Fig. l0, a detached plan vlew of the same, theupper plate, C3, being removed; Fig. 11, a sectional view on the line y y of Fig. 10, Fig. 12, a perspective view of the underside of the oscillating disk F2 for operating the operating-arm on the car, and Fig. 13 a perspective view of the upper side of the stationary plate on which the said disk oscillates.

The object of theinvention is to provide improved and simple means for automatically andl positively adjusting the movable switchrails of an ordinary switch without stopping or slacking the speed ofthe train or requiring the attendance of a switchman, this being accomplished by an arm adapted to be protruded from the side of a passing car and adapted to operate the rail shifting devices' located upon the ground at the side of the track, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

Referring to the annexed drawings by letter, A designates the main rails of the track,

fB the rails of a siding, and C the laterallymovable switch-rails, all of which may be arranged in the usual well-known manner. On one side of the main track and at a suitable distance from the switch-rails I locate the devices or mechanism for shifting the switchrails, these devices being connected to the shifting-rod F by means of the angle-lever E and the rod E, as shown in Fig. 1. In practice I prefer to provide meansfor shifting the switchrails by hand in addition to and independent of the means for automatically shifting them.

rIhe rail-shifting devices and the rod E are preferably incased to protect them from injury. Each rail-shiftingmechanismisinclosed in a vertical cylinder, D, rigidly secured to a base, G, suitably anchored to the ground in proper relation to the main track. vThe upper end of 'each cylinder is provided with a stationary head, D', perforated centrally for the free passage of a vertical square shaft, L, on which is secured a circular hub, L', recessed into the under side of the said head D', and serving as an upper centering-guide for the said vertical shaft. rllhelower cylindrical end, L, of the shaft L is passed freely through a vibrating plate, I, and stepped into the portion (l ofthe base, the said vibrating plate resting upon thc said portion G of the base.

Mounted upon the vertical shaft Lis the vcrtically-movable and oscillating turn-table or carriage S,which in this instance is composed of two disks connected by suitable blocks,and provided,preferably, with two sets of anti-friction rollers, s s', each set being composed of four rollers adapted to bear upon the sides of the said square shaft L, these rollers being journalcd iu radial recesses or slots formed in the said disks. As thus constructed and attached to the square shaft L, it will be observed that this turn tableS will rotate with theshaft, and at the same time be vertically movable thereon, the antifriction rollers serving to prevent binding of the parts. Preferably formed integral with and projecting radially from the bottom of the said turn-table S is alug orlip, U, the lower side of which is convexed, as at n, Fig. 4A, for a purpose hereinafter explained. This lng U is adapted to play circularly beneath a roller, a., journaled on a vertical gravitating arm, I, extending up through the base G, the roller c and arm b being raised a short distance by the said lug whenever it passes under the roller. The lower end of this arm I is pivoted to one end of a lever, II, pivoted in a slot in the base G, the other end, IIL', of this lever H being turned up and passed freely through the base and adapted to enter recesses 7L h in the bottom of the vibrating plate I and lock the same in eitherone of two positions it assumes.

Clips I, fastened to the base G and setting over the flange N, securely attach the plate I to the base, but permit it to vibrate freely a limited distance. The plate I is cut ont at one side to form the radial abutments i and i t, the former being somewhat higher than the latter. Rollers M M are journaled in slots in the buse, one being located on each side of the roller a and both projecting slightly abovev the face of the base. rI`he plate I is also provided with a radial arm, R, which projects through a slot, R', in the casing D and is attached tothe connecting-rod E. To the upper end of the vertical shaft is secured the bifurcated arm lV, the forks of which are suitably braced and provided with vertical tappets X. Attached to this arm is a depending chain, c, which passes between two grooved rollers, Y, jonrnaled in the head D', into the chamber A on the interior of the cylinder I), and is then attached to a weight, Z.

The operation of this part of my invention is as follows: Then it is desired to switch the car B,going in the direction indicated by the arrow Xolfuponthesiding B,alltheengineerorothcr attendant upon the car has to do is to throw out the arm H, as shown in Fig. 1, in the manner hereinafter set forth, and the rest of the operation is done automatically. As the car with the protruding arm passes the stand No. 1 the said arm contacts withthe Vertical tappets X and vibrates thearm \V,and this arm in turn partially rotates the vertical shaft L and theturntable S. As the turuftable rotates with the shaft L, the lug U on the turntable strikes against one of the lower abutments, t', and rotates the plate I until one of the apertures h in the bottom of the same registers with the bolt IIi, when the latter automatically enters the said aperture and locks the plate rmly against further vibration. At this point the lug U rides up upon one ofthe rollers M, the rounded under surface, n, ofthe former facilitati ug this, and is stopped by coming in contact with one of the upper abutmenis, t'. \Vhen the plate [is rotated or vibrated, tho switch. rails will be shifted through the medium of themiglc-lcver and connecting-rods, and when the arm II has passed the arm XV the latter is brought back to its normal position (shown in Fig. 1) by means ofthe chain c and weight Z. As the arm \V returns to its normal position the shaft L will restore the turn-table to its normal position, in which position its lug U will rest under the roller a, the plate I remaining unlocked, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The object in locking the vibrating plate I during the rotation of the turn-table, in the manner above described, is to prevent thejar or shock occasioned by' the contacting and sudden stopping of the parts from shaking the switch-rails out of alignment directly after they have been shifted by the vibrating plate. As the train passes onto the siding and the switch-rails are thrown back into alignment with the main rails by operation of stand No. 2, in the manner hereinafter described, the operation of the parts through the medium of the connecting-rod E will be reversed, the vibrating plates l'of both stands being carried back to their original position. The instant the switch-rails come back into alignment with the main rails the bolt IIL 0n stand No. l will automatically enter the other recess 7l` in the plate I and prevent the same from vibrating further, the turn-table with its lug U having been, of course, f1rst turned ont of the way by the rotation ofthe vertical shaft L. \Vhen the arm `\V again resumes its normal position, the lng U will be again carried back under the roller (l, thereby holding the plate unlocked free for another operation.

I will now proceed to describe the mechanism l'or operating the spring-actuated arm H', attached to the bottom ofthe car and adapted to be protrnded therefrom, this mechanism llazing illustrated by Figs. 8, 9, If), 11,12, and

Preferably at the middle of the length of the bed of the car, and near the sides thereof', I rigidly secure the casings and frames of the mechanism for operating thisarm I-I, as shown in Fig. S, and at the ends of the car are suitably jourualed cranks or windlasses II, connected by means of chains I' to a vibrating disk, F2, to be hereinafter described, these cranks and chains being for thc purpose of protruding the arms H when it is desired to operate the rail-shifting devices, as will presently appear.

The letter G" designates acylindrical casing;

IOO

clamped between two stationary plates, C' and B", and to the bottom of the car by means of suitable bolts passing through perforated ears upon the plates. Passing centrally through the said cylindrical casing GX and mounted in the two plates or disks Ca and B* is a vertical pin or bolt,'F', having its upper squared end inserted in a similarly-shaped recess in the said upper plate, C3, to prevent it (the bolt) from turning. Glamped loosely between the two plates (J3 and B4 and pivoted on the cenv tral bolt, F', is the verticalspriiig-actuated disk F2 and the above-mentioned vibrating springactuated arm H', the disk being recessed on its upper face for the reception of the arm, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth. This arm H is held in its normal position with respect to the vibrating disk by means ot' two V-shaped springs, M' M', secured rigidly to the said disk. The longer part, b', of this arm H' projects out through a slot, X2, in the casing and its shorter or inner end is provided on its under side with a recess, r', and a lip, r2.

The lower disk, B,is formed with an extension, B5, projecting from its periphery and provided upon its under side with cars bl, through which passes the fulcrum-pin bS of a pivoted locking-lever, L4. The shorter or inner arm of this lever is provided with a gravitating weight, K', and its outer orlonger arm is provided with an upturned portion, Z', which passes up freely through the plate B, and is adapted to automatically enter a recess, Z, in the disk F2 whenever the arm H' is protruded from the side of the car, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

` The vibrating disk F2 and its attachments are constructed as follows: This disk has formed upon its upper face two segments, FLF, forming two radial abutmentsjaf, and recesses for the reception ofthe spring M' and arm H', as shown most clearly in Fig. l0, the recesses for the arm being of sufficient size to permit a free partial rotation ofthe same around the bolt This disk F2 is provided upon its under side with a segmental recess forming shout ders p3 and S5, and also with a recess, S, near its edge, for a purpose hereinafter explained. This disk is also provided with a radial arm or pin, AX, for the attachment of the abovementioned chain l2, this arm AX projecting through a slot in the cylindrical casing GX.

The stationary disk B* is provided with a stop, s4, upon its upper side, which works in the segmental recess in the under side of the vibrating disk F2 and is adapted to abut against the shoulder p3. Pivoted in a curved slot, u, formed through the plate B4, near the outer end of thc radial stop .s'^, are two triggers, T T, pivoted on pins L5 and provided withupwardly-exteuding tails t3, which latter work in the recess S, formed in the under side ofthe disk F, and are adapted to engage at certain determined periods with the recess in the inner end of the arm H'. These triggers are weighted or enlarged at so that their normal tendency is to'fall ortip toward each other, the said weighted portions or toes normally resting upon the upper side of the weighted lever L4, for a purpose hereinafter set forth. Coiled Varound a post or pin, p, rising from the upper side of the plate B4, is a spring, Si, one limb of which is fastened down to the said plate B4, and the other free end, N2, is adapted to press against the radial shoulders S5, formed upon the under side of the vibrating disk F2.

The'operation of this part of my invention is as follows: When it is desired to protrude one of the arms H' so that it will operate the railshifting device hereinbefore mentioned, all the attendant upon the train has to do is to draw upon one of the chains l2 by means of one of the cranks Hf'. This partially rotates the disk F2, and this disk in turn carries around the arm H' to the position shown in Figs. 9, l0, and 11, when the bolt Z', formedy on the outer end of the weighted lever Lt, automaticall y enters the recess Z" in the said disk F2 and holds it in that position untilthe arm H' strikes the tappets on the vibrating arm W of the track mechanism. Vhen the arm H' contacts with the arm W, the former, by rea-A son of the location of the springs M', is permitted to yield or partially rotate upon the pin F', this vibration causing its inner end to sweep around far enough for one of the tails of the triggers T to enter the recess r' in the end of the arm, the trigger being tipped upA sufficiently for this purpose by the said arm. Now, as the car having the protruding arm passes onward, the instant the said arm is disengaged from the arm Wit is thrown back to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 10, by means of one of the springs M', and this movement of this arm H' trips the engaged trigger T and forces the lever L4 down, thus withdrawing the bolt Z' from the recessin the vibrating plate F2. The instant the bolt Z is disengaged from the spring-actuated plate F2 this plate, being free to revolve upon the bolt F', is returned to its normal position by the pressure upon its shoulder S5 of the free arm N2 of the spring si, this plate Fl Vbeing stopped in its rotation and heldin its normal position by the stop s* coming in contact with the shoulderp. As the disk F2 returns to its normal position it carries the arm H around to its normal position Linder the car out of the way, as shown at bottom of Fig. 8. y It will he observed that the track-stand No. 2, which is located in the crotch formed by the main track and siding, is provided with a duplicate bifurcated arm, NV, both keyed to the same shaft, L, of the rail-shifting mechanism. By this arrangement it will readily be seen that the rail shifting mechanism located in the crotch can be operated by trains passing either on the siding or main track. Thus, after a car has passed onto the siding, the attendant may throw out the arm H' upon the opposite side of the car from that last used (the right-hand arm in IIO this instance) and shift the switch-rails back in alignment with the main rails. This is done as follows: The arm il on the ear con tacts with the tappets X on the lefthand branch of the duplicate arm W and rotates the vertical shaft L in the direction indicated by the small arrow. As this shaft rotates it carries with it the turntable S, the lug U on this turn table in turn carrying around the vibrating plate I, in the manner hereinhefore described. When the vibrating plate I rotates sufficiently to shift the switelrrails, (through the medium of the connectingrods E F and angle-lever EQ) the bolt Hl on the lockinglever automatically enters one of the recesses h. and locks the plate agai ust further vibration. Again, where a train has been ruiming wild and it is desired to return to the main track in the direction of the arrow X2, an attendant on the train may throw out a left-hand arm, and this will shift the switclr rails in alignment with the sidingnails, as is evident.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, ism

l. The combination, with the switch-rails and connecti ngrods, of a vertical shaft, L, provided with an arm, \V, a vibrating plate adapted to vibrate about the said shaft, this plate being connected to the connectingrods of the switchrails and provided with abutments, and a vertically-movable turn-table upon said vertical shaft, this turntable being adapted to rotate with the vertical shaft and provided with a lug adapted to contact with the said abutments upon the vibrating plate, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The combination, with the switclrrails and connecting-rods, ofavertieal shaft, L, provided with an operating-arm, a chain and weight attached to this arm for restoring it to its normal position, a pivoted vibrating plate connected to the switch-rail-operating rods, and a vibrating carriage or turn-table adapted to operate the said vibrating plate, substantially as herein stated.

3. The combination, with the switch-rails and connecting-rods, of a vertical square shaft provided with an operating-arm, a pivoted vibrating plate connected to the operating-rods of the switch-rails, and a vertically-movable vibrating turn-table mounted upon the said vertical shaft and provided with friction rollers s s', adapted to bear upon the fiat sides of the said shaft, the said turn-table being adapt ed to operate the said vibrating plate, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the switch-rails and connectingrods, ofavertical shaft, L, provided with a lateral operatingarm, a pivoted vibrating plate connected to and adapted to operate the said connecting-rods of the switchruils, a vibrating turn-table mounted upon the said shaft and adapted to operate the said vi brating plate, this turn-table being provided with a radial lug, U, and a pivoted lockinglever, H, provided at one end with a bolt, H, adapted to engage and lock the said vibrating plate, the said locking-lever being provided with a vertical arm-and a roller or their equivalents at its other end, all arranged as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with the switch-rails and connecting-rods, of a hase, G, a vertical shaft, L, provided with an operating-arm, a pivoted vibrating plate, l, connecting to the switch-operating rods'aud provided with radial abutments z' i', a vertically-movable vibrating turntable mounted on the said vertical shaft and provided with a radial lug, U, means, substantially as described, for looking the said vibrating plate, and the rollers M M, journaled in the said base, all arranged suhstantially as and for the purpose herein set foi th.

6. The combination of the vertical pivotal bolt F', a vibrating spring-actuated disk pivoted upon this bolt, a weighted locking-lever, L*, provided with a bolt, Z', adapted to engage thesaid Vibrating disk, a springactuated arm, H', pivoted on the said bolt F and recessed into the said disk, so as to rotate with it, and a draw-chain, I2, connected to the said vibrating disk, substantially as herein set forth.

7. The combinationofa vertical pivotal bolt, F', a stationary plate, B, provided with a stop, st, the vibrating disk F2, shouldered and recessed substantially as described, a spring for actuating this disk, an arm, H', pivoted upon the said bolt F and recessed at r', this arm being adapted to rotate with said disk, springs for actuating this arm, a pivoted locking-lever provided with a bolt adapted to engage and lock the said vibrating disk, and weighted triggers T T, pivoted in a slot in the stationary plate B, as and for the purpose herein set forth.

8. The combination ofa vertical pivotal bolt, a vibrating disk pivoted on this bolt, means for rotating this disk, a lever for locking the disk, and a spring-actuated arrn, H', pivoted on the said vertical bolt and engaged by the said vibrating disk, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARMAN A. SAGE.

Witnesses:

GHAs. D. Davis, JOHN S. FINoH, J r.

ICO 

